Posted 9:21 am Friday, February 22, 2013
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Henderson Police suspect '87 incident lead to deadly encounter
Staff Reports
More details are emerging about the relationship between a Rusk County man and the person he is accused of shooting and killing Sunday morning at a Henderson American Legion Post.
More details are emerging about the relationship between a Rusk County man and the person he is accused of shooting and killing Sunday morning at a Henderson American Legion Post.
Henderson Police Department Lt. Craig Sweeney confirmed Thursday that an incident with a firearm occurred in December 1987, in which Sunday's murder victim, Roy Lee Moore, was the suspect and Joe Watley, the accused shooter from Sunday, was the victim.
Reports about the 1987 incident show that witnesses told law enforcement that Moore shot at Watley in the 200 block of Lee Street in Henderson.
“Watley got up and ran toward the north with Moore running after him, still trying to shoot at him,” witnesses told law enforcement. “They advised the gun must've jammed, and that's why they ended up on Cedar Street fighting hand-to-hand.”
Two shots were fired at Watley — one that hit him under the arm while he sat in the front yard and another that hit Watley's arm when he was preparing to run, according to a law enforcement report.
Lt. Sweeney said police still are trying to determine whether that incident was a factor in last weekend's shooting.
Reports about the 1987 incident show that witnesses told law enforcement that Moore shot at Watley in the 200 block of Lee Street in Henderson.
“Watley got up and ran toward the north with Moore running after him, still trying to shoot at him,” witnesses told law enforcement. “They advised the gun must've jammed, and that's why they ended up on Cedar Street fighting hand-to-hand.”
Two shots were fired at Watley — one that hit him under the arm while he sat in the front yard and another that hit Watley's arm when he was preparing to run, according to a law enforcement report.
Lt. Sweeney said police still are trying to determine whether that incident was a factor in last weekend's shooting.
Moore, 53, of Henderson, was shot several times in his upper body about 12:20 a.m. Sunday at the American Legion post, 601 Sand St., while attending a function, according to a news release from the Henderson Police Department.
Several people were trying to save the man when EMS arrived, the release states. The man was taken to a Kilgore hospital because of his “rapidly declining condition” but died from his injuries.
Watley, 60, of Henderson, was attending the same function and is accused in the shooting.
As the victim got up from a table to go to another area in the post, he was shot several times. An autopsy of the victim was ordered.
Watley was arrested in the 300 block of Garden Lane and booked into the Rusk County Jail for first-degree murder.
As of Tuesday, Watley had posted a $150,000 bond and was released from the Rusk County Jail. The bond was set by Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Joe Sorrells, according to police.
Several people were trying to save the man when EMS arrived, the release states. The man was taken to a Kilgore hospital because of his “rapidly declining condition” but died from his injuries.
Watley, 60, of Henderson, was attending the same function and is accused in the shooting.
As the victim got up from a table to go to another area in the post, he was shot several times. An autopsy of the victim was ordered.
Watley was arrested in the 300 block of Garden Lane and booked into the Rusk County Jail for first-degree murder.
As of Tuesday, Watley had posted a $150,000 bond and was released from the Rusk County Jail. The bond was set by Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Joe Sorrells, according to police.
